Protective suit

ABSTRACT

A life supporting protective suit having inner and outer walls and an intervening layer of porous material forming an isolation chamber between the walls. The isolation chamber is connected to an exhaust system discharging externally of the ambient atmosphere.

United States Patent [72] inventor Charles D.Cupp References CitedLancaster. N.Y. UNITED STATES PATENTS l PP- 709727 642,166 1/1900Sherman 128 1425 [221 Flled 3,049,896 8 1962 Webb 128/1425 [45] Pattimed3,292,179 12/1966 lacono, Jr. m1. l28/l42.5 [73] Asslgnee AutomaticSprinkler Corporation of America Primary Examiner-Adele M. EagerCleveland, Ohio Assistant Examiner-J. B. Mitchell Attorney-Christel andBean [54] PROTECTIVE SUIT 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

. [52] U.S.Cl 128/1425,

2/2 ABSTRACT: A life supporting protective suit having inner [51] Int.Cl A41d 13/00; and outer walls and an intervening layer of porousmaterial A62b 7/00 forming an isolation chamber between the walls. Theisolation [50] Field of Search 128/ 142.5, chamber is connected to anexhaust system discharging externally of the ambient atmosphere.

AMBIENT 0R SLIGHLTY POSITIVE PRESSURE P SKIN SURFACE Q AMBIENT PRESSUREPATENTED- FEB 2 Ian EXHAUST APPARATUS AMBIENT 0R SLIGHLTY POSITIVE YPRESSURE GATIVE PRESSURE AMBIENT PRESSURE INVE NTOR CHARLES o. CUPP W iM ATTORNEYS PROTECTIVE sun BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well knownto provide life supporting protective suits for workmen who must operatein an atmosphere which may be oxygen deficient, toxic to them orotherwise incapable of sustaining life. To this end, the workman may beprovided with a full-cover suit complete with head gear includingrespirator mechanism connected to some source of breathable atmospherewith breath expulsion effected directly to the ambient atmosphere.However, circumstances may make it undesirable to so contaminate theambient atmosphere. Indeed, it may be desirable to assure that nocontamination of any kind emanating from the man enter the ambientatmosphere. Under these conditions it has been suggested to fit theexhalation device as well as the interior of the suit to a suitableexternal exhaust source which creates a negative pressure within thesuit to carry away any possible contaminant for the ambient atmosphere.

However, since the protective suits necessarily are made of flexiblematerial the act of subjecting the interior of a suit to negativepressure can cause the suit to cling to the wearer and thereby become asource of annoyance and discomfort.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towarda protective suit which isolates the wearer from ambient atmospheres andwhich, through an e'xtemal source of exhaust, also isolates the ambientatmosphere from the man without, however, causing the suit to cling tothe wearer. Essentially, this objective is accomplished by providing adouble wall suit wherein the inner and outer walls are separated andheld apart by an intervening layer of porous material which forms, ineffect, an isolation- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGFIG. I is a view showing the life supporting system in its entirety; and

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through theprotective suit. I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1, a lifesupporting system according to the present invention will be seen toinclude a protective suit indicated generally by the reference characterand which completely encloses the wearer, being provided with aheadpiece 12 having a transparent .face plate 14 and fitted with arespirator device 16. The respirator device may include any conventionalinhalation valve as well as an exhalation valve, the latter preferablybeing a demand vacuum control valve such as shown in US. Pat. No.3,348,538. A flexible conduit 18 is connected to the inhalation valveand extends therefrom to a source of breathable atmosphere such as anoxygen tank, not shown, strapped to the wearers back. The exhalationvalve is connected by means of a flexible conduit 20 to an exhaust line32 which is in turn connected to a source of exhaust 22, and the conduit20 is provided with an adjustable I valve device 24 to maintain aslightly negative pressure to the exhalation valve, it being appreciatedthat the exhaust ap- "paratus 22 maytake the form of a pump or otherequivalent mechanism to effect a substantially continuous exhaust asindicated at 26 at a point external to the ambient atmosphere withinwhich the wearer and his protective suit are located.

To illustrate this, a section of a wall 28 is shown, it beingappreciated that the wall 28 forms a portion of an exclosure withinwhich the wearer is operating and on the left-hand side of which wall 28is the ambient atmosphere region 30 which may be toxic to the occupantof the protective suit, or oxygen deficient. or otherwise incapable ofsustaining human life.

The purpose of the conduit 20 and the exhaust line 32 to which it leadsis to prevent contamination of the ambient atmosphere space 30 from theproducts of respiration of the wearer, it being appreciated thatsuitable sealing means is provided at the point at which the exhaustline passes through the wall 28. A branch line 34 is also connected tothe exhaust line 32 and is provided with an adjustable valve device 36for maintaining a predetermined negative pressure in an isolationchamber of the suit 10, as will hereinafter appear.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the suit 10 is formed with an inner wall 38and an outer wall 40 spaced from the inner wall 38, between which wallsis sandwiched a layer of porous material 42 which serves to retain thewalls 38 and 40 in separated condition so that they form an isolationchamber therebetween. The branch exhaust line 34 leads to an connectswith the interior of the isolation chamber and by adjustment of thevalve 36 continuously subjects the region between the inner and outerwalls 38 and 40 to a selected negative pressure.

In this way, the protective suit 10 may hang properly and loosely incomfortable fashion on the wearer since the region between the innerwall 38 and the wearer's skin surface as indicated at 44 in FIG. 2 issubjected to ambient or slightly positive pressure. At the same time,the system completely isolates both the wearers body from the ambientatmosphere, and the ambient atmosphere from the life supportingatmosphere I the isolation chamber or chambers therebetween are in communication with the exhaust apparatus 22. Wall 38 can be treated orsurfaced as may be desired for maximum comfort against the skin surface.

The spacing layer 42 can comprise any suitable material. For example, afabric can be used, with the woof and warp spacing apart the walls 38and 40 and providing communicating passageways for evacuating thechamber therebetween.

Open cell sponge or foam materials also can be used, the cells providingcommunicating passageways throughout the chamber.

Also, while it is contemplated that both walls 38 and 40 normally willbe impervious to gas, the inner wall 38 can be somewhat porous, at leastin part, for ventilating the interior of the suit where the latter isprovided with a ventilating gas. While a full suit is shown in thedrawing, it will be appreciated that my invention also can be used inprotective coverings other than a full suit.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

l. A life supporting system comprising a protective suit adapted tocover the body of a user, said suit comprising an inner wall and anouter impervious wall, both'walls adapted to cover a substantial portionof the body of the user, spacing means fonning an isolating chamberbetween said walls, exhaust means including a conduit means dischargingexternally of the ambient atmosphere, and means placing said chamber incommunication with said exhaust means for evacuating said chamber,thereby to avoid contamination of the ambient atmosphere.

2. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1. wherein said suitfully encloses the body of the user.

3. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1. wherein said innerand outer walls are flexible, and said spacing means comprises anintervening flexible layer of porous material.

4. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1. which includesmeans for maintaining the interior atmosphere of said suit at a slightlypositive pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere within which saidsuit is intended to be used.

5. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1. together withinhalation means for supplying breathing fluid to a user of saidprotective covering, and exhalation means for receiving the products ofrespiration of such user said exhalation means communicating with saidexhaust means to carry off the products of respiration.

6. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1. wherein saidlast-named means include a pressure regulating valve for establishing apredetermined negative pressure in said isolating chamber.

7. A life supporting system as set forth in claim I, wherein saidspacing means comprise a fabric.

8. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidspacing means comprise an open cell sponge material.

9. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said innerwall is pervious to the passage of gas, together with means forsupplying a ventilating gas to the interior of said suit.

1. A life supporting system comprising a protective suit adapted to cover the body of a user, said suit comprising an inner wall and an outer impervious wall, both walls adapted to cover a substantial portion of the body of the user, spacing means forming an isolating chamber between said walls, exhaust means including a conduit means discharging externally of the ambient atmosphere, and means placing said chamber in communication with said exhaust means for evacuating said chamber, thereby to avoid contamination of the ambient atmosphere.
 2. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suit fully encloses the body of the user.
 3. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner and outer walls are flexible, and said spacing means comprises an intervening flexible layer of porous material.
 4. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, which includes means for maintaining the interior atmosphere of said suit at a slightly positive pressure relative to the ambient atmosphere within which said suit is intended to be used.
 5. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, together with inhalation means for supplying breathing fluid to a user of said protective covering, and exhalation means for receiving the products of respiration of such user said exhalation means communicating with said exhaust means to carry off the products of respiration.
 6. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said last-named means include a pressure regulating valve for establishing a predetermined negative pressure in said isolating chamber.
 7. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprise a fabric.
 8. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprise an open cell sponge material.
 9. A life supporting system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner wall is pervious to the passage of gas, together with means for supplying a ventilating gas to the interior of said suit. 